Two Lynx players were nominated for ESPY Awards as part of the annual program aired on ESPN in July.
Guard Layshia Clarendon is a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian award and guard Crystal Dangerfield was nominated for the Breakthrough Athlete award.
The Sports Humanitarian award is given to an athlete whose leadership has had a positive impact on their community through sports. The winner will be able to donate a $100,000 grant from ESPN to charity. All of the finalists will be able to donate $25,000.
Clarendon, the first openly transgender and nonbinary athlete to compete in the WNBA, is one of four finalists for the award along with Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Kansas City Chiefs) and Titus O'Neil (WWE).
"It's pretty cool," Clarendon said. "It's still sinking in. It's awesome. A lot of people do this work, and their names never get recognized, their work is never acknowledged. It's humbling to be recognized. … If this helps further the fight for social justice, that's awesome."
Dangerfield, who last season became the only player not taken in the first round of the WNBA draft to win Rookie of the Year, is one of four finalists in her category, along with Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers), Chase Young (Washington football team) and NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets).
"It was a complete shock," Dangerfield said. "But there was excitement, too. Unfortunately I won't be able to go. But I can mark it off my bucket list, the nomination, whether I win it or not. I'm pretty excited about that."
Also nominated was Connecticut guard and former Hopkins star Paige Bueckers in the Best College Athlete, Women's Sports category.
